15:19 Mon, 10 Mar M

Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Flashes of this year’s birthday hit her like a slideshow–the silence, the empty apartment.

The Harts? Chris? They were all off in Europe with Olivia.

Not one text. Not one call.

Forgotten? Not a chance.

She and Olivia had the same birthday–they knew. They just didn’t care.

That part didn’t sting anymore. What stuck in her head was why, after all that, Catlin still refused to sign the disownment

papers.

“What’s wrong?” Sebastian’s voice pulled her back.

Stephanie shook her head, her smile faint. “Nothing. Just… been a while since anyone thought my birthday was worth celebrating.”

Ever since she left the Giovannis, birthdays stopped meaning anything.

Before she could say anything else, Sebastian pulled her straight into his arms.

His heartbeat was right there under her cheek–strong, steady, and grounding.

His voice dropped low, rougher than usual. “Still thinking about running off again?”

Her eyes burned, and before she could stop herself, the tears slipped. “No. Never again.”

The Casalinis were already wiped off the map. She had no reason to run anymore.

Sebastian held her tighter, like she might disappear if he let go.

“Sorry, Seb.” Her arms wrapped around his waist, face buried against his chest.

He didn’t answer, just smoothed a hand over her hair, fingers sliding through gently.

She had nothing to be sorry for. Back then, he was neck–deep in turf wars and putting out fires left and right.

He barely had a second to look her way–that’s how the Casalinis slipped through the cracks.

By the time Stephanie made it back to the office, a good thirty minutes had passed.

Jennifer’s eyes zeroed in on the necklace the second Stephanie walked in.

“Hold up–boss, where the hell did you get that? It looks… Weirdly familiar.”

“Sicily Sunrise,” Stephanie said casually.

Jennifer’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me?”

That diamond wasn’t just expensive–it was a legend.

Auctioned for over 30 million dollars, with billionaires and royals fighting over it–and Stephanie was just wearing it?

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15:19 Mon, 10 Mar

Chapter 149

even if

It could

bome from him.

look on Jennifer’s face and raised a brow. “So? Does it look

so fast it was almost comical.

smiled. Of course it

still here?”

a second before it clicked. “Oh–yeah. Still

her smile

***

、 87%L

+5

into her office, Catlin was already

Hearing the door open, she tried to pull herself together, plastering

been waiting forever. Your assistant called you three times, but you didn’t

obvious irritation in her voice–along with

Stephanie these days, Catlin had resorted to using

single one ended up blocked. Cold–blooded? Heartless? Catlin had never met a daughter like this in

back on her feet, she planned to have a long chat with

What kind of parenting turned out a kid this shameless?

purse onto the desk, zero interest in small talk. “Alright,

wasn’t about Olivia, she couldn’t

hit the necklace she was wearing, sending bright flecks of

it was impossible to miss. Her eyes locked onto it

Mon, 10

Chapter 149

Chapter 149

birthday hit her like a slideshow–the silence, the empty apartment.

Harts? Chris? They were all off in Europe

text. Not one

Not a

the same birthday–they knew.

head was why, after all that, Catlin still refused to sign

papers.

voice pulled her back.

shook her head, her smile faint. “Nothing. Just… been a

Giovannis, birthdays stopped meaning anything.

anything else, Sebastian pulled her

heartbeat was right there under her

rougher than usual. “Still thinking about running off again?”

before she could stop herself, the tears slipped. “No.

Casalinis were already wiped off the map. She

her tighter, like she might disappear if he let

arms wrapped around his waist,

answer, just smoothed a hand over her hair, fingers sliding through gently.

he was neck–deep in turf wars and putting out fires left and

had a second to look her way–that’s how the Casalinis slipped through the

the

the necklace

up–boss, where the hell did you get that? It looks… Weirdly

Sunrise,” Stephanie said casually.

jaw dropped. “Are you

just expensive–it

with billionaires and royals fighting over it–and Stephanie was

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